A&D Ointment Ingredients

Carrie Burns Updated April 17, 2017

A&D Ointment is a diaper rash ointment and skin protectant. Also commonly used as a topical treatment for burns and cuts, many tattoo shops recommend A&D Ointment for their newly-inked clients. A&D can also be used for post-chemical peel care to protect the newly exposed skin from environmental irritants. If you have sensitive skin, it is important to research the ingredients in any over-the-counter product before use, since many ingredients on very young, new or open skin can cause adverse reactions. If there is no known sensitivity to any ingredients, apply the ointment liberally on clean, dry skin as often as necessary.

Loading ...

Active ingredient: Lanolin (15.5%)

Lanolin is a fatty, waxlike substance derived as a byproduct from sheep's wool. Lanolin is commonly used in hair products, hand creams, lip products and moisturisers for its emollient properties. Emollients soften and moisture the skin by creating a barrier which prevents transepidermal water loss, or TEWL, which is the natural loss of moisture through the skin. By creating a barrier against evaporation, the skin stays moisturised even when no additional moisture is applied externally.

Lanolin can be very soothing, but can also have a sensitising effect that causes allergic reactions. People already prone to eczema may be especially sensitive to lanolin.

Active Ingredient: Petrolatum (53.4%)

Commonly known as petroleum jelly, petrolatum is another emollient. Petrolatum is similar to lanolin in weight and occlusive properties, but it is derived from petroleum hydrocarbons. Cheap and readily available, petrolatum is a common ingredient in lip products and ointments. Its low cost, ready availability and extremely long shelf life make petrolatum a popular vehicle for skincare products. While petrolatum is unlikely to cause allergic reactions, it may cause or aggravate acne.

Inactive Ingredient: Cod Liver Oil

Cod liver oil is the ingredient that gives A&D Ointment its name, due to its high content of both of these vitamins. By weight, cod liver oil has the highest concentration of vitamins A and D of any food, as well as having a high number of essential fatty omega-3 acids. Vitamins A and D have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Cod liver oil is extracted from the livers of fresh fish in the Gadidae family.

These ingredients make up a very small percentage of the overall product. In the case of A&D ointment, the fragrance used is not specified and might be used only to counteract the sometimes unpleasant smell of lanolin.

Light mineral oil, microcrystalline wax and paraffin are all petrolatum products and all function similarly as emollients. Paraffin is a wax used to increase the thickness of the ointment.

Resources

About the Author

Based in Austin, Texas, Carrie Burns has been writing professionally since 2004, primarily ghostwriting corporate white papers and reviewing local theater productions. She has also spent time devising new works with cutting-edge theater ensembles. Burns holds a Bachelor of Arts in theater from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.